Using mindfulness-based games and movement activities as brain breaks can be an easy way to involve mindfulness in your daily routine. The ideas below are organized by theme.
(Sources are in parentheses and cited under "References")
Independent Activities
Journal Keeping (Hart, 2004)
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Coloring
- Invite students to color on blank paper or on a coloring page with lines (offer choice as older students may feel intimidated by blank paper)
- Play music and/or read a poem/short story while students draw and invite them to be inspired by the music or words
Silence ("Mindfulness in the Classroom")
- Bring students together and after focusing attention, encourage students to embrace silence
- Independently monitor the time and start with only 30 seconds for young children and increase the time based on experience/age
- You can encourage students to journal or talk with a friend about what noises they heard and what they experienced during the silence
Partner Activities
Mirror Activity (Swisa, 2015)
- Have each student pair up and while playing calming music have each student take turns moving his or her body slowly
- The other student will mirror his or her partner's actions and then the students will switch roles
- This can be a good student-led way to encourage students to focus their thoughts & engage directly with a peer
Playful Movement Activities
Confetti Throw (Swisa, 2015)
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Animal Yoga
Great for an indoor recess or a particularly antsy Friday!
Great for an indoor recess or a particularly antsy Friday!
Crossing the Midline ("Why Crossing the Midline")
- Some psychologists believe that activating different parts of the brain through physical activity can help improve certain academic skills
- The poses below are an example of moves one can use to encourage students to "cross the midline" of their bodies either horizontally or vertically
- While not as focused an activity as yoga, this is a fun game that can help students grow more comfortable moving their body in different ways and can be a good way to ease into the yoga poses featured on the "Yoga" tab
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Whole Group Activities
Mind Jar (Spaulding)
Use a glitter-filled mason jar or empty water bottle to help bring calm to your classroom!
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Daily Routine: Morning Warm-Up (Swisa, 2015)
- Have students gather together in a circle and take deep breaths with eyes closed.
- Lead them in some gentle yoga flow poses (forward-folds, mountain-poses, bends)
- If time permits, engage in a brief guided meditation (see "Meditation" tab)
- After opening eyes, ask students to walk around the room and greet each friend with a handshake, hug, or wave
Post-Meditation Wrap-Up (Swisa, 2015)
After engaging in a guided meditation, ask students how they feel. Don't be afraid to use these questions with younger students- it is always good to have them start thinking about how they can be in control of their emotions! Here are some guiding questions:
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